Systems and Methods for Enhanced Font Management

Abstract

A first request that the user device render a first text in a default font is transmitted to a user device, and a second request that the user device render a second text in the desired font is transmitted to the user device. Data pertaining to the desired font is provided to the user device, if a first dimension of the first text is the same as a second dimension of the second text. For example, the data may comprise a request that the user device download the desired font from a specified source. The first dimension may be a width of the first text and the second dimension may be a width of the second text, for example.

1 . A method for providing online services, the method comprising:
 transmitting a first request that the user device render a first text in a default font;   transmitting a second request that the user device render a second text in a desired font; and   providing data pertaining to the desired font to the user device, if a first dimension of the first text is the same as a second dimension of the second text.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a third request that the user device display a portion of a document; and   transmitting one or more requests that the user device render the first text and the second text in a region that is not displayed.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting a fourth request that the user device display at least a portion of the document using the desired font.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first text and the second text comprise identical strings of alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the online word processor is accessible via a network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting a third request that the user device display a message indicating that the desired font is being downloaded.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving from the user device a selection of an option to download the desired font.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first dimension is a width of the first text and the second dimension is a width of the second text. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 comparing the width of the first text to the width of the second text.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing data pertaining to the desired font to the user device further comprises:
 transmitting a third request that the user device download the desired font from a specified source.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data pertaining to the desired font comprises a storage location of the desired font. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing online services, the method comprising:
 receiving a first request to access a document from a user device;   identifying one or more fonts used in the document;   determining a missing font that is not stored on the user device from among the identified fonts;   providing data pertaining to the missing font to the user device; and   transmitting a second request that the user device display the document using the one or more fonts.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 transmitting a third request that the user device display a message indicating that the missing font is being downloaded;   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 providing the data pertaining to the missing font to a second user device; and   transmitting a fourth request that the second user device display a second message indicating that the missing font is being downloaded.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of determining a missing font from among the identified fonts that is not stored on the user device further comprises:
 comparing a dimension of a first text rendered in the missing font to a dimension of a second text rendered in a second font.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the dimension of the first text is a width of the first text and the dimension of the second text is a width of the second text. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the step of providing data pertaining to the missing font to the user device further comprises:
 transmitting a third request that the user device download the missing font from a specified source.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the data pertaining to the missing font comprises a storage location of the missing font. 
     
     
         19 . A method for providing online services, the method comprising:
 identifying one or more fonts used in a document that is shared by a plurality of user devices;   determining a missing font that is not stored on a selected one of the user devices from among the identified fonts; and   providing data pertaining to the missing font to the selected user device and to at least one other user device in the plurality of user devices.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 transmitting a first request that the selected user device display a first message indicating that the missing font is being downloaded; and   transmitting a second request that the at least one other user device display a second message indicating that the missing font is being downloaded.   
     
     
         21 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having program instructions stored thereon, the instructions capable of execution by a processor and defining the steps of:
 transmitting a first request that the user device render a first text in a default font;   transmitting a second request that the user device render a second text in a desired font; and   providing data pertaining to the desired font to the user device, if a first dimension of the first text is the same as a second dimension of the second text.   
     
     
         22 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , further comprising program instructions defining the steps of:
 transmitting a third request that the user device display a portion of a document; and   transmitting one or more requests that the user device render the first text and the second text in a region that is not displayed.   
     
     
         23 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 22 , further comprising program instructions defining the step of:
 transmitting a third request that the user device display at least a portion of the document using the desired font.   
     
     
         24 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the first text and the second text comprise identical strings of alphanumeric characters. 
     
     
         25 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 21 , wherein the first dimension is a width of the first text and the second dimension is a width of the second text.